How much does a 2.7 / 3.0/ 3.2 change the feel of the car? Options

[Tdskip]

Happy Father’s Day gentlemen.

I just drove a ‘74 2.0 car from central OR down the coast back to SoCal (great trip, car was totally reliable) and somewhere on a single lane carving through the redwoods outside Eureka I wondered “yeah, the extra power would be nice but would it make the car feel heavier”.

So,is there a trade off in perceived weight or having the car be less eager to dance that comes with a /6 conversion? My intention is to keep whatever car I covert a narrow body and subtle so built GTs aren’t really the best point of feedback.

Thanks!

[mb911]

They feel a little heavier but honestly they feel fantastic. The sound alone is amazing but the power is nice as well.. You really need to drive one to understand it though.. No written words can describe it..

[mb911]

I also would consider a 2.2 and 2.4 that is kind of a hot build engine. They offer some advantages to the larger engines especially cost and still have similar abilities..

[Krieger]

I when I go from driving my 3.0 six to my built 4 I invariably look down and think did I leave the e-brake on?

[buck toenges]

I use to think my 3.2 felt heavier then a 4 cylinder but since I now have both I find that my 3.2 feel lighter in the front steering even though it has bigger/wider tires. Weight distribution perhaps.
Buck

[mepstein]

I use to think my 3.2 felt heavier then a 4 cylinder but since I now have both I find that my 3.2 feel lighter in the front steering even though it has bigger/wider tires. Weight distribution perhaps.
Buck

So many little things can change the feel of a car for better or worse. We made up a RSR style widebody that was riding on old suspension and it felt fantastic compared to a built RS style car with all new parts that felt a little truck like. The RSR with steamroller wheels and tires felt light and nimble, the RS was awkward to drive. So many things come into play and a good suspension guy can make everything work in harmony.

[Larmo63]

There is really no comparison. If you drove my car, or any of our sixes that seem to be so abundant around here lately, you'd INSTANTLY get the gist of it.

You'd also get going RIGHT AWAY on doing your six conversion.

[Tdskip]

OK, OK. I’m convinced (again).

Now to figure out which car to do this to and sell several of the others...

Thanks gentlemen.

[campbellcj]

Bear in mind there's also some weight difference between the various -6 engine configs. I have a mag case engine with carbs and headers (no heat) for example, about as light as you can get but 'compromised' in other ways.

[Tdskip]

Bear in mind there's also some weight difference between the various -6 engine configs. I have a mag case engine with carbs and headers (no heat) for example, about as light as you can get but 'compromised' in other ways.

Good point.

I have a 3.2 L that, in theory, should be ready to go as well as a 2.7 that will need at least a top end rebuild. Both are fuel injected engines which for now I am planning on leaving installed.

Was planning on headers and no heat.

[ConeDodger]

Probably the most notable difference between my 2270 and 3.2 six is drivability. There isn’t any angry snotty behavior with the six. It starts, idles, and runs like a daily driver. But when you hit the angry pedal? Bye-bye!

[mtc911]

This probably goes in the category of really stupid question but I’ll throw it out there anyway - what is a ballpark price range taking a decent running 2.0 to a 6 conversion - I know loaded question with lots of dependencies - $5k $10k $20k ??? What ballpark we talking?

[Coondog]

I when I go from driving my 3.0 six to my built 4 I invariably look down and think did I leave the e-brake on?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif) best reply of the year award and it’s only June (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

[Tdskip]

Probably the most notable difference between my 2270 and 3.2 six is drivability. There isn’t any angry snotty behavior with the six. It starts, idles, and runs like a daily driver. But when you hit the angry pedal? Bye-bye!

Rob!

That’s basically what I am going for, needs to be civilized.

[Tdskip]

This probably goes in the category of really stupid question but I’ll throw it out there anyway - what is a ballpark price range taking a decent running 2.0 to a 6 conversion - I know loaded question with lots of dependencies - $5k $10k $20k ??? What ballpark we talking?

Biggest swing is engine acquisition cost and what needs to be done to it.

Working budget for everything else would be between $4,000 and $5,000. That’s my mid-process cocktail napkin math which I would take with a healthy amount of skepticism.

[mb911]

If you do it yourself then 5-6k in parts if you already have the engine.


Remember flywheel, oil tank, oil filler neck, wiring harness, oil filter console, oil lines, headers, engine mount, throttle bell crank assembly, muffler.. Lots of options out there.

[mepstein]

If you do it yourself then 5-6k in parts if you already have the engine.


Remember flywheel, oil tank, oil filler neck, wiring harness, oil filter console, oil lines, headers, engine mount, throttle bell crank assembly, muffler.. Lots of options out there.

for a 3.2, also -
conversion clutch with ring gear
DME sensors and bracket
modify engine cooler
front oil cooler, lines and thermostat
oil temp/pressure gauge
rear shift rod
915 trans stubs, hub stubs, hubs, cv's and sway away axles
engine sheet metal
O2 & altitude sensor
DME relay
3.2 fuel pump
muffler bracket

New engine fuel lines if yours are original.

Pricey but worth it.

The 3.2 conversion was the most popular engine switch by far at the WCR. Guys are seeing up to 300hp when modified so there is plenty there for most 914 owners.

[mepstein]

Probably the most notable difference between my 2270 and 3.2 six is drivability. There isn’t any angry snotty behavior with the six. It starts, idles, and runs like a daily driver. But when you hit the angry pedal? Bye-bye!

Rob!

That’s basically what I am going for, needs to be civilized.

Buy one of Ben's stainless steel quiet mufflers if you want civil or the last of his 2 in, 2 out GT mufflers if you want mean.

If you choose the right exhaust and a lightweight battery, you can greatly reduce the total weight gain of the six. The stock 4 parts and lead acid battery were quite heavy.

[horizontally-opposed]

^ Some great input above.

My 2.2 six conversion definitely doesn't feel as light or "momentum" as it did as a four, but I wouldn't go back. It just feels special in a way that's hard to describe. The car always felt like cheap fun—in the GOOD way Miatas and MR2s do—as a four, but feels more exotic and sophisticated as a six. Heavier, too. And maybe not quite as flingable...but I hold out hope that I can dial the suspension in further. Not that it's bad...but there's something very cool about the lighter fours.

Any six is going to require a brake upgrade, but PMB's alloy Brembo setup or any 911 front brakes should be enough. Count on a five-lug conversion as well, if you go for the latter.

If you want to keep the body narrow, I think 180-200hp is the sweet spot—so I'd look at hot 2.2s, 2.4s, and other engines up to the SC 3.0 or maybe a 3.2 that's dead stock. Of course, the bigger the displacement, the more you get into the conversion. Oil coolers, 915s, etc add a lot to the cost. I like the 2.2 because you can get nice hp (I am not wishing for more power) without big torque, which is what starts upsetting the transmission, driveline, and/or chassis. YMMV here.

The engine in my car is a 190-200hp E/S 2.2, and it feels and sounds great. There are times where I wish it was injected instead of carbureted, but that wasn't in the budget. If you want civilized, I wonder about a 2.4 MFI or even 2.4 CIS? Or just a nice 2.7 or 3.0 CIS? Add a stock muflfer and I suspect that would be a very nice package....

Once you go past 200hp, I'm starting to think about flares and all sorts of other stuff. you're soon re-engineering the car—not that there's anything wrong with that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[IronHillRestorations]

A 3.0 or 3.2 is a torque monster. The first time my wife drove my 3.0 914 she started from a dead stop in 3rd gear! A 3rd gear that tach'd out at 75mph! A 3.2 with Motronic is my personal "gold standard" 6 conversion, but I'm very fond of all flat sixes, and a small displacement high spooling 2.2S is very fun in a 914.